Helicopter Simulator 2014: Search and Rescue
- February 27, 2014
- VipaGames
Get on SteamBecome an emergency pilot and test your skills to their limits, as you sit in the cockpit of an emergency helicopter, across more than 40 challenging missions. Choose from 8 models of 'copter, each varying in size, ability and specs. Fighting forest fires, communication failures, and conducting perilous search & rescue missions are just the start... you'll face many more natural disasters through…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game can be fun and entertaining for casual players, especially those who enjoy arcade-style gameplay.
- It offers a variety of missions and helicopter options, which can provide a decent experience for those not seeking hardcore simulation.
- Some players found the controls manageable after practice, and the game runs smoothly on lower-end systems.
- The game is plagued by technical issues, including frequent crashes and failure to load, making it unplayable for many users.
- Controls are often described as clunky and difficult to manage, especially without joystick support, leading to frustrating gameplay.
- Graphics are dated and subpar, failing to meet modern standards, which detracts from the overall experience.
- story85 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 93 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a series of helicopter rescue missions, where players must complete various objectives, such as saving people from crashed airplanes or oil platforms. While the missions are imaginative, many players noted a lack of variety and coherence in mission design, with some objectives feeling illogical or poorly planned. Additionally, technical issues, such as crashes and freezing, hindered the overall experience, leaving some players frustrated before they could fully engage with the story.
“The missions and objectives are imaginative and exciting.”
“It is for those players who want to play the exciting helicopter missions, who like to carry out support orders and a challenge in solving complex and tricky requirements with the atmosphere and the thrill of a helicopter.”
“Where in SimCopter you flew around in a city and things happened which you had to clear, in this game you can fly around on different island maps and things only happen when you start a mission with a specific objective.”
“Although there are a variety of missions, they are all basically the same.”
“But mission design shows a lack of careful planning.”
“In the first mission I played, it had strange requirements that made no sense.”
- graphics53 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated and subpar, with many reviewers noting they do not meet modern standards, particularly for a title released in 2014. While some players find the visuals acceptable for a low-cost game, others describe them as almost horrendous, with issues like blurriness and lag in certain menus. Overall, the graphics may disappoint those seeking high-quality visuals, but they are deemed sufficient for casual gameplay by some users.
“Nice little game worth the buck it cost, the heli flying on the hard setting gets fun when you get used to it, and the graphics are kind of nice too.”
“While most people knock this game for its bad controls and graphics, I for one, am having a great time with this game.”
“The graphics quality is not comparable to modern expensive high-end games, but for the pure helicopter jobs, it is sufficient.”
“The graphics are almost horrendous to begin with.”
“Dated, runs fine but the graphics are awful.”
“The graphics are so far from 2014 standards it's not even funny.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it fun despite its basic mechanics, while others criticize it for terrible controls, poor graphics, and a dated feel. Comparisons to previous titles highlight a significant drop in quality, suggesting that potential buyers should watch gameplay footage before purchasing.
“In my opinion, they do not inhibit gameplay at all.”
“I suggest that anyone before buying should watch a gameplay video of it first.”
“As for gameplay, it's actually fun.”
“Terrible controls, bad graphics, and boring gameplay.”
“The gameplay is very basic, and really feels quite dated.”
“In comparison to the detailed and thoughtful 'Car Mechanic Simulator' title they released recently, this is a huge drop in quality.”
- music14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely criticized for being grating and repetitive, with many players finding it mismatched to the game's visuals and opting to turn it off entirely. Reviewers noted the limited variety, consisting of only a couple of songs and a monotonous loop of radio chatter, which detracted from the overall experience. While the option to mute the music is available, the sound design remains a significant drawback for many players.
“The music and sound design create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.”
“The soundtrack is catchy and fits well with the game's theme, making it enjoyable to listen to while playing.”
“The sound effects are well-crafted, adding depth and realism to the gameplay.”
“Omg music is grating and annoying; frequent use of brass crescendos gives the impression of flying in a warzone.”
“The only annoying thing for me is the music, as it didn't match the picture I get when I was flying over the woods or the coastline, so I switched it off completely.”
“The only sounds in this game are one and the same soundtrack, a 60-second loop of 'radio chatter' and engine sound that is the same for all helicopter models.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as entertaining and amusing, particularly for players who appreciate its quirky and broken nature. While the graphics are outdated, the comedic elements, especially the various disasters, contribute to a fun arcade experience for casual gamers.
“But it is still a funny arcade for those who are not experts of helicopters.”
“I bought it because I had a dollar looking at me on my Steam account and I decided I wanted to get a funny and broken game.”
“Most of the 'disasters' in this game are hilarious!”
- optimization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Users report significant performance drops, particularly near buildings and during weather effects, indicating a lack of optimization. Some have attempted to improve performance by adjusting settings in the AMD Catalyst app, but these efforts have not yielded satisfactory results. Overall, the game is perceived as poorly optimized.
“[*] Set AMD Catalyst driver app to use high performance mode.”
“Performance drops in the vicinity of buildings and/or when weather effects are on.”
“It didn't run all that well either, and didn't feel at all optimized.”
“My best guess is that it may have something to do with either the fact that it's installed to C drive or that I had to manually assign high performance mode to the AMD Catalyst app or both, but I'm sure I did that before and it didn't work.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a generally stable experience with no significant bugs or crashes, although some have encountered freezing issues when navigating to specific areas, such as the hangar. It appears that while the game is mostly stable, there are isolated incidents that may need further attention.
“I click on go to hangar and it freezes.”
“I haven't seen any bugs, glitches, or crashes yet, but maybe it's too early to tell. I will update if there are any changes.”
“I click on go to hangar and it freezes.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by the inclusion of communication chatter, which immerses players in the thrilling experience of piloting helicopters during exciting missions. It caters to those seeking a balance between engaging gameplay and accessibility, allowing them to enjoy complex challenges without the need for extensive technical knowledge.
“It is for those players who want to play the exciting helicopter missions, who enjoy carrying out support orders and face challenges in solving complex and tricky requirements, all while experiencing the thrilling atmosphere of helicopter flight.”
“The inclusion of comm chatter adds to the atmosphere of piloting.”
“It is for those players who want to play the exciting helicopter missions, who like to carry out support orders and face challenges in solving complex and tricky requirements, all while enjoying the atmosphere and thrill of a helicopter, but do not want to invest their playing time in complicated technical manuals and controls.”
